End of the road for program that helps NE youth

Centerpointe’s residential program in Lincoln that treats troubled youth will be closing at the end of this month. Executive Director Topher Hansen points to a change in medicaid-related decisions. He’s concerned about its effects on young people that need the service.

“There are people, kid’s who need a higher lever of service than outpatient, and can’t be in their home, or return to their home, and need that kind of care.”

Hanson predicts that many residential treatment programs in the state will be closed because of the change. State Medicaid spokesmen say they’re emphasizing out-patient treatment.